Category: Lifestyle

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“ What’s behind that door?”

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Doors Open Markham features seven NEW sites

Have you ever wondered, “ What’s behind that door?” Doors Open Markham provides visitors with exclusive access to 19 locations that are not generally open to the public. This is a free one-day event to tour cultural and historical sites that reflect our community’s past, and experience the diverse cultures that contribute to Markham’s unique charm.

“This is a chance to explore Markham’s hidden gems, learn about our community’s history and cultural heritage … the possibilities are endless!” says Markham Mayor Frank Scarpitti. “There is something for everyone: Markham Fire Station is a favourite for kids of all ages, architectural enthusiasts will be wowed by the Wong Dai Sin Temple and if you haven’t yet, be sure to visit the Aaniin Community Centre and Library, Markham’s newest facility!”

“One day + 19 fascinating locations + FREE admission = Doors Open Markham,” says Doors Open Committee Chair Kenneth Ng. “Visit first-time sites and past favourites, for their architecture, their heritage, or the interesting things going on. The Doors Open Markham Committee looks forward to seeing you there!” Continue reading ““ What’s behind that door?””

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Student art revitalizes Brampton Transit hub

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A 16-foot long mural created by Sheridan College students was unveiled yesterday at Brampton Transit’s Gateway Terminal to help revitalize the space.

 Located at 501 Main Street South, the Brampton Gateway Terminal is a hub for students – particularly those from Sheridan College – making this project a natural collaboration. With the idea stemming from Brampton Transit employees who work at the terminal and wanted to beautify the space, the City commissioned several of the school’s Honours Bachelor of Illustration students to create a mural that represents Brampton Transit and its role in the community.

 Sheridan included this project in its summer illustration program.  Four students created the final artwork:  Alanna Campbell, Erina Chida, Isabella Fassler and Miri Molev. The mural project was led by Sheridan Illustration faculty Ted Zourntos and Julia Breckenreid, along with the support of Elijah Williams, Manager, Centre for Indigenous Learning and Support, who guided the students in the identification of appropriate indigenous symbols to include in the mural. Continue reading “Student art revitalizes Brampton Transit hub”

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More Families to Reunite in Canada

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To help reunite even more parents and grandparents with their families in Canada, the Government of Canada announced that we will accept up to 20 000 applications for the
sponsorship of parents and grandparents, in 2019. This is 4 times the number of applications accepted when the program reopened in 2014, when the cap was set at 5000 applications.
This decision to increase the number of applications that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will accept for processing is a result of continually high demand in the Parents
and Grandparents (PGP) Program and the fact that we have significantly reduced the backlog of applications. The inventory has dropped from a peak of 167 000 people, in 2011, to just under 26
000 people, in June 2018.

After increasing the 2018 cap to 17 000 complete applications, IRCC sent a second round of invitations to randomly selected potential sponsors who submitted an Interest to Sponsor form in
early 2018. Those invited to the second round have until October 5, 2018, to submit a complete application.

Minister Hussen also announced that, as a result of listening to stakeholders and closely examining the PGP Program, the government is making further changes to the application intake
process that will streamline access to the program and improve client experience. Using this modified intake process will give the government more flexibility in the application
process, ensuring that we receive as many applications as possible. Continue reading “More Families to Reunite in Canada”

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2018 CNE BRINGS LARGER-THAN-LIFE ATTRACTIONS AND SUPERSIZED ENTERTAINMENT

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NEW: Indoor Lantern Festival, TELUS Asian Market, Giant Garden Gnomes, Star-Studded Concert Series, and the US Air Force Thunderbirds return to the Canadian International Air Show for their only performance outside of the USA this year

– August 17 to September 3 –

Toronto’s iconic summer celebration, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), kicks off August 17 to
September 3 with all-new and more diverse programming than ever before. In celebration of the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, the CNE is home to one of the world’s largest indoor lantern festivals featuring 17 illuminated large-scale art installations on display daily inside the Enercare Centre, as well as an outdoor TELUS Asian Market transforming Princes’ Blvd. into a bustling and lively marketplace for artisanal crafts and authentic street foods from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.

Returning to its destination beside the Princess Margaret Fountain is the eight-feet tall CNE sign. A new popular ‘selfie’ photo opportunity at The Ex is the Nook of Gnomes inside Heritage Court, where visitors can find unexpected encounters with six- and 12-feet giant gnome statues decorated in greenery. Innovation is also a strong theme this year with the return of the CNE Innovation Garage and the Emerging Innovators Pitch Competition; a new Genius Lab Playground and Nintendo Kids Tech Zone; more play-to-win tournaments at Gaming Garage; and an exciting new robot competition where high school teams showcase their robotic creations for top honours. Continue reading “2018 CNE BRINGS LARGER-THAN-LIFE ATTRACTIONS AND SUPERSIZED ENTERTAINMENT”

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Muggles, Hogwarts and Quidditch -The Potted Potter Toronto Experience!

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By N. Balani

The Potted Potter experience began way back in 2005 in England when Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner were asked to do a 5-minute street show style presentation on the first 5 Harry Potter books for fans waiting for the release of the sixth book at midnight.

They never imagined that more than a decade later they would still be performing an extended version of that magical show all over the world! This outstanding show has toured from England to Australia to Hong Kong to Dubai and now is in its fourth tour of Toronto and will go on to other cities in the USA.

This two-man parody on the world of Harry Potter will keep you rolling in laughter whether you are 6 or 66 or even the age of Lord Voldermort! The show involves a Harry Potter expert (James Percy) and a person who is definitely not a Potter expert (Brendan Murphy) trying to present a 70 minute summary of the entire 7 tomes of the Potter saga. To enjoy the slap-stick humour of this show you do not even have to know the difference between a HufflePuff and a horcrux or the names of all the creatures from the Book of Magical Creatures. The plot is simple and so is the stage set (low key wigs and hats), but the comedy is rich and a rare chance to see improvisation theatre at its very best. Continue reading “Muggles, Hogwarts and Quidditch -The Potted Potter Toronto Experience!”

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CARABRAM 2018: Cultures, costumes, cuisines!

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Carabram, Brampton’s Multicultural Festival has expanded. This year they included a central site at South Fletcher’s Sportsplex, to showcase additional cultures, music and food as well as an International Bazaar. In addition, The World of Food Pavilion was part of the central site as well an International Market Bazaar with artisans and commercial vendors from Arabia, Latin America, Pakistan, Hawaii, Ukraine and Nepal.

A small stage was set up to present music, dance and songs, as well as demonstrations including Ted Talk style presentation. The Main stage, beside World of Food, continued to showcase top entertainment from around the world.

Carabram, Canada’s oldest cultural festival was on July 13, 14, and 15 at eight venues across the city. In addition to the new South Fletcher’s site, there were pavilions located throughout the city. Canada returned to the UNIFOR Local 1285 Hall,

Caribbean and China were at Chris Gibson Recreation Centre. The rhythm of the islands, the pulsating beats of the drums and the steel band made the audiences sway to the reggae music and whine to the calypso singers. At the China Pavilion, entertainment   included Lion Dance , Kung Fu (Wushu), Qipao fashion show, GuZheng (Chinese Zither), Tai Chi and Taekwondo. Continue reading “CARABRAM 2018: Cultures, costumes, cuisines!”

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Yoga is Beautiful because it is ancient yet modern: Shri Narendra Modi

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Instead of Increasing Suffering, Yoga Heals, Yoga is Beautiful because it is ancient yet modern, It is Constant yet Evolving: Prime Minister of India
4th International Day of Yoga celebrated

Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has stated that the way to lead a calm, creative & content life is Yoga. “It can show the way in defeating tensions and mindless anxiety. Instead of dividing, Yoga unites.” He was addressing the main event of the 4th International day of Yoga, which was celebrated at the Forest Research Institute(FRI) in Dehradun here today. Shri Krishna Kant Paul, Governor, Uttarakhand; Shri Trivendra Singh Rawat, Chief Minister, Uttarakhand, Shri Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of AYUSH and Shri Harak Singh Rawat, Uttarakhand State Minister (AYUSH) also attended the event.

During his address the Prime Minister further said that, “Instead of increasing suffering, Yoga heals. Yoga is beautiful because it is ancient yet modern, it is constant yet evolving. It has the best of our past and presents and a ray of hope for our future. In Yoga, we have the perfect solution to the problems we face, either as individuals or in our society. Continue reading “Yoga is Beautiful because it is ancient yet modern: Shri Narendra Modi”

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Escape the city. See great art.

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The Return of the McMichael Art Bus
The McMichael Canadian Art Collection is excited to announce that the McMichael
Art Bus is back this year – just in time for summer. Perfect for the urban-dwelling art lover in need of an escape, the Art Bus departs from downtown Toronto to the McMichael and back for only $15 plus general admission.
 
Every Sunday from June 10 to October 28, round-trip transportation to the McMichael leaves from the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival headquarters’ parking lot located next to 80 Spadina Avenue (King and Spadina) at 10:30 am, and heads back downtown at 3:30 pm.
 
Art-goers can also purchase tickets for one of the McMichael’s Signature Performance Series: Acoustic Conversations which take place on select Sundays this summer, intertwining conversations and a live performance with influential Canadian hip hop talent such as Michie Mee, Maestro Fresh-Wes, and more.

The McMichael Art Bus provides a convenient and hassle-free transportation option for Torontonians to access and visit the gallery. The McMichael boasts 100 acres of grounds to explore, a Sculpture Garden, and hiking trails, which provide a relaxing and uplifting summer escape. Continue reading “Escape the city. See great art.”

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Yoga, the discovery of your Self

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By Rangarajan

The Sanskrit word ‘Yoga’ simply means ‘reunion’. Reunion implies an existing state of separation. You are separated from your real Self and blissfully unaware of it too! Ignorant of your Self, you identify with your body, mind and intellect and endlessly chase the world for happiness. Yoga is the search and pursuit of your real Self, culminating in Self-discovery, the native home of happiness.

Yoga is pursued fourfold. Hatha yoga, predominantly addressed to the body and vital pranas, ward off lethargy, indulgence and energy dissipation. It renders the body conducive to spiritual quest.

Karma yoga is dedicating actions to a higher ideal vis-a-vis working for a mundane, mechanical survival. Bhakti yoga relieves your mind from the self-inflicted bondage of attachment to stable identification and devotion. Jnana yoga shifts the direction of intellect from unending terrestrial concerns to transcendental enquiry upon the Self.

Since every human is composed of body, mind and intellect, the pursuit of the fourfold yoga, in proportion to individual constitution is indispensable for evolution. Due to its relative ease of demonstration, practise and immediate appeal to the body, postures and breathing in hata yoga, has hit worldwide eminence in no time. Continue reading “Yoga, the discovery of your Self”

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desiFEST 2018 Showcases the best in Urban Desi Music

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desiFEST 2018 Bigger and Better Than Ever​​

The 12th annual desiFEST wowed crowds once again with 12 hours of entertainment, featuring more than 25 artists in the heart of Toronto at Yonge and Dundas Square.

This year’s festival featured Canadian and International artists including: Calgary born Punjabi singer, The Prophecy; one of India’s most popular rappers and Hip Hop stars, Divine; a special tribute to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan by The Mad Band; Amar Sandhu and Pranna from Dallas, USA and fan favourites hailing from British Columbia, Anjali and
GPS. Thousands of attendees were also treated to a surprise performance by UK legend, Manj Musik.

“We had a dream line-up this year for our 12th annual festival,” says festival founder and CEO Satish Bala. “Giving artists a platform to share their music, their energy and message is what desiFEST is all about. Big Thanks to all the artists, fans and all sponsors including TD Telus and all our media friends, that made this year’s event so amazing.”

This year’s festival featured 3 days of artist meet and greet opportunities, industry events, receptions and more, across the GTA. Continue reading “desiFEST 2018 Showcases the best in Urban Desi Music”